With the law, the government could close down independent non-governmental organizations and media in the same way as the law has been used against civil society in Russia.
At least two hundred thousand people were on the streets of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, in anti-government demonstrations on Saturday.
In a country of less than four million inhabitants, it is a huge expression of opinion.
People are on the streets because they think the Georgian government is sabotaging the country’s EU membership process. According to the demonstrators, the government sympathizes with Russia, which wants to prevent Georgia’s EU membership in every way.
A similar situation was in Ukraine ten years ago, when the country’s president sabotaged the EU process. People took to the streets and finally drove the president of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych’s into exile in Russia.
The clash between the protesters and the government has been escalating since the beginning of the week. The ruling party of Georgia, the Georgian dream, is then going to pass the law on foreign agents in the parliament.
Protesters have vowed to stop the proceedings and plan to block politicians from entering parliament on Monday.
Georgia fears the fate of Ukraine
With the Russian law, the government could close down independent non-governmental organizations and media in the same way as the law has been used against civil society in Russia.
In Georgia, the law on foreign agents is called the Russian law. It is an undemocratic law that would prevent EU negotiations. Georgia was granted EU candidate status at the same time as Moldova a year and a half ago.
Last year, the ruling party Georgian Dream tried to push through the same law, but the project led to large street protests.
This year, the law will be pushed through more determinedly. Next autumn’s elections also have an effect in the background. Without tougher measures, the ruling party Georgian Dream fears losing the elections.
Georgian Dream is an oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili creation. He is the richest person in Georgia. He made his fortune in the 1990s in Russia.
According to the protesters, Ivanishvili is still promoting Russia’s cause in Georgia.
Georgia is in a difficult position as a neighbor of Russia. Russia occupies about a fifth of the country after the 2008 war.
Georgia is genuinely afraid of Ukraine’s fate. If Russia attacked Georgia, it would be difficult for the small country to defend itself.
Without EU and NATO membership, Georgia has to balance next to its neighbor who is waging a war of aggression.
Opposition figures were abused
In the protests in Georgia, the police have used hard grips and tear gas.
In recent weeks, Georgian opposition politicians and activists have been beaten even outside the demonstrations. For example, a former ambassador Gia Japaridze was severely abusedas well as Gorchi Party politician Boris Kurua.
The beatings are believed to have been ordered by the ruling party.